Bertram's Ring (Symbol)
When Bertram writes to Helena to tell her that he does not intend on ever consummating their marriage, he also says that he will only be a dutiful husband if she a) wears his ring and b) bears his child. This is meant to imply to Helena that Bertram has no plans of ever returning, because his ring is a family heirloom that he never takes off. The ring becomes a symbol both of love and loyalty (as rings typically indicate in marriage ceremonies) and of Bertram's unwillingness to relinquish his power in the "war" between men and women.
Female Bonds (Motif)
Throughout the play, there are a number of relationships between women that help move the plot along and aid Helena in eventually getting everything she wants. First, there is the relationship between the Countess and Helena, her ward. The Countess endorses Helena's pursuit of Bertram (despite her lower social class) and supports her travels to Paris, where she will attempt to heal the King. Afterward, in Florence, Helena joins forces with Diana and her mother, the Widow, to deceive Bertram and prove her worthiness as a wife. These female alliances are contrasted starkly with the male characters, whose bonds break down over the course of the play.
The Drum (Symbol)
The Dumaine brothers attempt to expose Parolles by telling him that the battalion's drum was lost in battle and that Parolles should go search for it, planning to pose as enemy soldiers and "capture" Parolles. At the time, the loss of such a drum was actually a significant one, as it was considered disgraceful and bad luck for the battalion. While the other soldiers are practical about the loss of the drum – letting it remain lost – Parolles boasts about his plans to recover it.
Marriage Rewards (Motif)
In the play, Helena is rewarded for saving the King's life with her choice of husband. She choose Bertram, of course, who only acquiesces after the King pressures him to do so. Similarly, at the end of the play, the King rewards Diana for her help by allowing her to choose her own husband as well. While these rewards were common tropes of medieval romance, Shakespeare inverts the paradigm to showcase women expressing their desire for a particular husband rather than the other way around.
Helena's Pregnancy (Symbol)
At the end of the play, the secret of the "bed trick" comes out through the revelation that Helena is pregnant with Bertram's child. Helena's pregnancy symbolizes both her "victory" over Bertram – within the context of the war between the sexes, Helena clearly wins – and the notion of rebirth. Bertram echoes this concept of rebirth when he vows to remain a dutiful husband to Helena for the rest of their lives.
